80's have seem to be a period that is really idealized by many people, though no era has saved from Its own missteps.
The Cold War kept on and Economies all over the world were seem as a back and forth between politic ideals by entering into an age of computarization, leaving industrial labor and manufacturing in the past, with this bringing a contrast between optimism and hopes put into the years to come and the general pessimism about the transition process that was experienced in that present, leaving many people without a job, and bringing with that a wave of poverty. Into more eastern countries the Soviet Union had began to collapse and the trust for communist systems had been only a shadow of the past.
However, Western Media was beginning to have a kind of revolution Into the territory of High Budget Films also known as "Blockbusters".
These were shining not always for their screenplay, for more Its production values an effects were a pure display of innovation.
80's Media
The household signature was now their pure adrenaline inducing spectacles, high testosterone straight films,
presenting main characters that were outlined by their badassery and cheesy one liners that really marked that period of time, whether It was a Vigilante, a Warrior or a Soldier, this kind of stereotyped hero was now in Its most brightest moment, occupying nearly every screenplay and sooner than later movie theaters and VHS tapes.
On the side of this, there were a particular subgenre of movies, one of that not only incorporated this kind of character though It introduced more dystopian and post futuristic elements into play, always keeping that era vision about that age.
Certainly Well known directors such as Ridley Scott, James Cameron and Paul Verhoeven, had been the men behind the films that really shaped this genre, movies like RoboCop, Terminator and Blade Runner.Even It seem to have Its influence onto Video games and the TV world with series like the cop Neo-Noir Miami Vice.
These worlds were a powerful display and critique to the problems then faced by the people, Authoritarian Governments, Overall Insecurity and a Wrath of Crime all over the countries, overpopulation and even representing the modern lower classes lifestyle. All of these completely new universes were accompanied by amazing soundtracks, that had grow into people and survived so long to have an impact even 3 decades later.
This sound was characterized by the use of synthesizers, rhythym boxes and pumping basslines that were heavily influenced by Synthpop and Techno french and european electronic music which had an skyrocketing popularity since the early 70s, giving a sensation of continuous dread, adrenaline or suspense. Particular masters from this time by conveying this genre were artist/writers/directors like Vangelis, Tangerine Dream and the living legend John Carpenter, who blew up previously due to his 1978 film, Halloween, which soundtrack was one of the most thrilling and nightmarish pieces of art from that era. These ambients full of neon lights, misterious and really dark stories mixed in futuristic underworlds (Later Known as Cyberpunk, a genre Itself), made a sensation out of this period. However, Its popularity within the next decade just decreased Into nearly been forgotten.
When synthesizers were first introduced into music, I liked the idea that you could get a big sound with them, (...) like an orchestra. And I could play it all myself. That was exciting.
-John Carpenter, The Rise of the Synths
Synths Take All Over the World
During the Year 2000s, some elements that characterized that period of time were seen again on French House Record from the Duo Daft Punk "Discovery" again using very synthethized sounds and sounds that can be easily compared to those from 70s and early 80s, which only paved the way for what was to come.
Later at the beginning of the 2010 era specifically on the year 2011, Nicolas Winding Refn new film Drive was released, with a soundtrack that was produced by Cliff Martinez, which used tracks from College & Electric Youth (Real Human Being) and Its most popular song Nightcall, by Kavinsky, whos popularity was been emerging as an artist since the very beginning of the decade, which with the help of other acts like College and Justice helped to create and push forward a new genre, using retrofuturistic element from 80s and the use of synthesizers and basslines that brought those old times back.
After the release of the film, the community building along this new sound have only grown stronger, until in 2012, Dennaton games put one of the most violent, gory yet gratificating and masterfully crafted games from that year, Hotline Miami, created by Jonatan Söderström and Dennis Wedin, being one, If not the strongest point from this title Its soundtrack, which was a combination of retrowave (Another way in which you know Synthwave) and New Wave artists such as M|O|O|N, Carpenter Brut, IAMTHEKIDYOUKNOWWHATIMEAN and El Huervo along with many more that make you immerse into the game and put you in a trance from level to level.
All of this factors and the arrival of new artists into the genre like Trevor Something and Miami Nights 1984 had made It surpass all boundaries and even create a cult of people that had begun to miss this Neon,Cybernetic and Retrofuturistic version of the 80s that had probably never existed.
